6 Types of Potatoes to Create Original Dishes in your Kitchen

You won’t believe the different types of potatoes and
the countless potato varieties that exist all the over the world to
this day. For cooking purposes, we
can say that there are basically six main types: yellow, red, Russet,
white, fingerling and blue. Each type has certain characteristics which
allow them to be used for specific cooking methods.

In addition, you can take advantage of their different
colors
to create dishes with interesting beauty. Before you grab the first
potato you come across, keep in mind that by choosing the right type
you have completed the first step for making a good potato recipe. The
versatility of potatoes allows them to be cooked for breakfast, lunch
and then dinner.

It is important to know what
type of
potatoes you
should use when baking and boiling. For example, if you want
to add potatoes to soups or stews you should
use red, yellow or blue potatoes. They are lower in starch and
it means that when boiling they will not fall apart.

Potatoes for baking purposes are high
in starch
and when they
are done, the texture is very soft. They should not be confused with sweet potatoes which are
another vegetable.

Next you will find some of the most
common
varieties of potatoes (which are among the nightshade vegetables) and the
best
ways to cook them.

The
6 types
of potatoes and what you can do with them:

Yellow
Potatoes

You guessed it, they are potatoes with a yellow color.
They have a golden skin and interior. They are a bit smaller than
Russets but have a natural tendency to have a higher amount of
nutrients. They are known to be a superior quality variety that can be
used for most recipes.

They have a lower starch texture than the Russet but
can still be used for any dish requiring Russets without affecting the
result. They are considered "all purpose", which means that you can use
them to cook easy potato recipes like mashed or baked potatoes. Sadly,
the drawback with this type is they tend to rot faster than Russets.

Red potatoes as you may imagine have a red skin, unlike
the yellow varieties and most of them have white flesh. The red variety
has a firm waxy texture, which makes them perfect for soups and
delicious potato salads. They have a pretty good quality but tend to
get damaged with ease.

When you buy them, be prepared to use them as fast as
you can as they last even less than yellow ones. Some people love to
cook these potatoes with the skin but if you plan to do that wash
them very thoroughly.

Russet potatoes are very popular,
also known as Idaho Potatoes. They are among the most common types of
potatoes. The Russet variety has a brown, tough skin with white flesh
and is very high in starch. Normally they are bigger than the yellow
and red
types.

The Russets also last longer than
yellow and red ones when kept on the proper conditions (dark, cool and
dry storage area). They are considered “less fancy” than yellow and red
ones but personally I love mashed potatoes so they are in the top of
my list. Russets are great to cook mashed potatoes and also are good
for baking.

The white potato has a somewhat similar appearance to
the Russet potato. They have a light “brown” skin but are smaller with
a rounder shape. The skin is also thinner than the Russet. The white
potato variety is more of a general purpose potato similar to the
yellow type (not too starchy not too waxy).

These types of potatoes get damaged very easily and I
personally have noticed they get diseases more often than all other
types so if you want to use them keep that in mind.

The fingerling potato is another popular variety. They
are called
“fingerling” due to their shape resembling fingers (don’t worry they
are not actual fingers). These potatoes are very small compared to the
other varieties and can be a bit pricey. If you want to prepare a fancy
potato dish they will come in handy.

Their skin comes in several different colors like yellow
or purple and their flesh can also vary the same way. The skin is
typically thin, which makes it easy for people to cook them without
peeling. They are not the preferred type to create big meals but
they can do the trick if you need a side dish.

They are among the most curious types of potatoes. Their
color is due their high antioxidant content.
This gives them an edge over other potato varieties in terms of
nutrition. In other words you could say they provide slightly more
health benefits than the others.

Blue potatoes are ideal if you want to create eye
catching dishes. Their color can do wonders especially when used in
potato salads. Believe me they will stir a lot more curiosity than
traditional recipes using white flesh potatoes. Their starch content is
considered medium, which means they can be cooked in most ways without
a problem.